Cloud migration, also known as cloud server migration, is the process of moving some or all of your digital operations from traditional local servers to cloud servers. It is the data architecture version of the relocated office. As with any physical movement, attention to detail is essential. Leaving something behind or finding your new space not ready halfway through can have disastrous consequences.
However, just like moving to newer, bigger, better-equipped office spaces, moving to the cloud will eventually become necessary for most growing businesses. If you’re going to move to a managed cloud server, why not? – It’s like moving to an office building where the building manager manages cleaning, maintenance, and even utilities. As long as you keep up with the rent, all the little jobs are miraculously done when you’re not looking.
Of course, a cloud migration might just be moving from one cloud server to another, or from one cloud service provider to another. However, these kinds of movements tend to be uneventful. They are nothing compared to migrating an on-premises data infrastructure to a modern cloud system for the first time.
What is cloud migration and why are cloud migration services important to your organization?
Cloud migration services typically refer to all the assistance required to modernize self-hosted and legacy systems and load them onto cloud servers.
Cloud migration services are important. That’s because few small businesses have the onsite expertise needed to successfully migrate to the cloud. Data and its uses are a big part of business. You can’t afford to stop working indefinitely. A little borrowed expertise can prevent disaster.
Types of cloud migration services
Common cloud migration services include:
- Rehosting – Typically offered by Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) providers, rehosting recreates the exact hosting setup on an external cloud server.
- Refactoring – Refactoring, more commonly offered by Platform as a Service (PaaS) providers, reuses much of the current framework and code, but modifies it as necessary to run on the provided platform. To do.
- Revision – Revision, also known as revision, means extending and at least partially rewriting the codebase before refactoring or rehosting as described above.
- Restructuring – Restructuring in this sense means revamping the data architecture and rewriting all the code to be optimized for the PaaS provider’s platform. This can be labor intensive and expensive, but it can revolutionize the way systems operate.
- Replacement – Depending on the state, age, and actual effectiveness of the legacy data infrastructure, retire it and replace it entirely, provided by a third-party vendor for Software-as-a-Service implementation Applications may take precedence. (SaaS) solution.
Most of these processes do not require special cloud migration infrastructure, but some highly idiosyncratic legacy systems may require special migration solutions. If so, Liquid Web is happy to help.
Benefits of Cloud Migration for Enterprises
Businesses don’t look to cloud migration services as a creative way to spend money. Clearly, this project is designed to provide real, measurable benefits that constitute a solid business case. The exact benefits will depend on your current system and how you use it, but most companies planning to move to the cloud can expect to realize the following benefits:
better performance
The new server usually performs better than the onsite server, so everything should work faster and more reliably. Migrating servers to the cloud reduces user latency and further improves the user experience.
Increased flexibility
Internal and/or external users should be able to access cloud-hosted services from any internet connection anywhere in the world. New customers can be reached, and field teams have full, secure access to company services.
low cost
Cloud-hosted operations typically yield lower returns than internally-hosted operations, even with all the performance upgrades. In today’s financial environment, you should be able to spend your extra money without any problem.
Improved scalability
In most cases, cloud-hosted systems can support more users and higher bandwidth than aging on-premises servers. Scalability is often a matter of clicking a button and paying a slightly higher monthly fee (as opposed to buying and physically installing a whole new server infrastructure), so demand Adapting to sudden changes in is not a problem.
How to plan your cloud migration
Do I need to know all about the cloud migration infrastructure and the coding details of the new cloud-based server before I start? In fact, it can handle almost any detail. But you will need a plan. That plan should typically include concerns such as:
- Clear project goals – what performance do you expect from the new system? When will it be tested? when are you going live
- Security Strategy – Need to know more about cloud and web application firewalls. Also, I need to know how to implement proper security at the end of the system.
- Data copy and update plan – You need to ensure that your cloud database is up to date when you switch. After that, it’s all about maintaining good backups.
- Update your BI processes – In a perfect world, this simply means pointing your analytics to a new database address. Actually I need to make sure everything is still working.
- “Going Live” After Party. You have taken a big step. you should celebrate
Of course, it won’t always be that simple. Timing is one of the most difficult aspects of migration.
Final Thoughts on Cloud Migration
Sooner or later, most companies will migrate their internally hosted data to the cloud. However, most people who choose to wait hopefully took a plunge years ago. Contact Liquid Web. One of the most helpful people at Hosting®, she’s happy to answer your questions.